New scheme for mining-dependent: Manohar Parrikar

TNN | Updated: Apr 11, 2014, 5:11 IST

PANAJI: With an eye on swinging the votes in the mining belt towards the BJP and ensuring Congress' campaign of reminding the mining-affected that the chief minister is responsible for their current woes, CM Manohar Parrikar on Thursday said "the BJP will rescue the mining-dependent from their misery" via, yet another, scheme. This scheme, he told reporters on the last day of campaigning for the parliamentary polls, will cover all those who have not been already covered under the first two schemes. So, truck drivers, mechanics, small businesspersons, and those who have lost employment will now join the wagon of truck, barge and machinery owners who are already receiving state assistance. There's uncertainty in the BJP over getting a good response in the mining belt. "To help mining-dependent people the government will spend the money collected from the e-auction of confiscated iron ore," said Parrikar. He said the state is likely to earn around Rs 600 crore from the e-auction "and 90% of this amount will be spent to waive off the loans of mining-dependent people". The state government has already made a provision of Rs 150 crore in the budget towards new schemes, he reminded. "Every person impacted by the closure of mining, directly or indirectly, will be supported for debt clearance," said Parrikar, stressing that even the housing loans of such persons will be cleared. He said the government's decision to spend the e-auction amount on mining-dependent people has been placed before the Supreme Court too during the final arguments on the ongoing case on illegal mining. He claimed the government has received positive response. "We are now waiting for SC's final order, which is expected any moment. Mining will be allowed to restart with some conditions," said Parrikar.

In September 2012, shortly after the Shah commission report on illegal mining was tabled in Parliament, the six-month-old BJP government suspended mining activities in the state. This was followed almost immediately by the Congress-led central government's ministry for environment and forests revoking the environmental clearances of mining leases in the state. The matter reached the SC in October 2012, where a closure on mining activities has been ordered till final orders are passed. Parrikar claimed Goans have received BJP's manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls well, and reiterated that a BJP government at the Centre will try to protect the people affected by CRZ as well.